Q: Who determines what we will benchmark?

A: This process has four steps:

1. new hospitals joining the effort agree to benchmark the current indicators until the next semi-annual meeting of the executive group;
2. at that time, all participating hospitals evaluate the factors that are critical to their organization’s success based on operating environment, market position, financial issues, etc.;
3. using step 2 as a foundation, discussion is held on each of the current indicators and on new indicators that are of importance to each hospital;
4. agreement is reached on the indicators for the coming quarters.

Q: How are the Best Practices Investigations chartered?

A: At each executive meeting, results of the quarterly Gap Analysis are reviewed. Looking at where there is a "gap" in performance - a significant opportunity for improvement - the group determines which indicators warrant an in-depth investigation to find out what works and what doesn't in a pediatric hospital.

Q: Will we get to see results of previous Best Practices Focus Groups?

A: Yes. Each organization joining the BENCH effort will be provided with the white papers from all previous best practices focus group investigations, all surveys, and other documents produced by the effort.

Q: Can we expect a cost savings from this effort?

A: Yes. Every hospital is using the gap analysis and best practices information differently. Many BENCHmark hospitals have reported improvements in process times. Others have used the productivity best performer numbers as stretch targets in their budgeting process. Examples to date of savings include:

1. reductions in resource consumption (lab tests per adjusted discharge)
2. reductions in supply costs
3. job integration and redeployment, as well as reduction of FTEs
4. reductions in lengths of stay for specific APR-DRGs